Hook plate and hook plate system

Abstract

A hook plate for use in conjunction with a fracture fixation plate, said fracture fixation plate including a bone contacting surface and an opposite surface, said hook plate comprising a substantially rigid plate having a first portion and a second portion; the first portion adapted for slidable engagement with, said opposite surface of said fracture fixation plate; the second portion configured to wrap around an edge of said fracture fixation plate to engage with a bone fragment and reduce a fracture; the first portion being substantially flat and defining a first portion plane; the second portion having at least two projections which curve downward to a position below the first portion plane and terminate in hook ends adapted to engage with said bone fragment; the first portion including a slot that transects said hook plate from a surface of said hook plate that faces the fracture fixation plate to an opposing surface of said hook plate for engagement with a fastener on said opposite surface of said fracture fixation plate; said slot being elongated; and the first portion including an elongate member extending distally away from the first portion and upward to a position above the first portion, said elongate member adapted to aid in the tensioning of the hook plate prior to tightening of the fastener.

We claim: 
     
       1. A hook plate for use in conjunction with a fracture fixation plate, said fracture fixation plate including a bone contacting surface and an opposite surface, said hook plate comprising:
 a substantially rigid plate having a first portion and a second portion; 
 the first portion adapted for slidable engagement with, said opposite surface of said fracture fixation plate; 
 the second portion configured to wrap around an edge of said fracture fixation plate to engage with a bone fragment and reduce a fracture; 
 the first portion being substantially flat and defining a first portion plane; 
 the second portion having at least two projections which curve downward to a position below the first portion plane and terminate in hook ends adapted to engage with said bone fragment; 
 the first portion including a slot that transects said hook plate from a surface of said hook plate that faces the fracture fixation plate to an opposing surface of said hook plate for engagement with a fastener on said opposite surface of said fracture fixation plate; 
 said slot being elongated; and 
 the first portion including an elongate member extending distally away from the first portion and upward to a position above the first portion, said elongate member adapted to aid in tensioning of the hook plate prior to tightening of the fastener. 
 
     
     
       2. The hook plate of  claim 1  wherein said elongate member is removable. 
     
     
       3. The hook plate of  claim 1  wherein said fastener is a threaded fastener. 
     
     
       4. The hook plate of  claim 1  wherein the first portion comprises indicia proximate the slot, said indicia adapted to identify any movement of said hook plate relative to said fracture fixation plate. 
     
     
       5. A fracture fixation apparatus comprising:
 a substantially rigid fracture fixation plate including an elongated body portion having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal body axis; 
 said fracture fixation plate including a head portion adjacent to the distal end of said body portion; 
 said head portion including a bone contacting surface and an opposite surface; 
 the bone contacting surface of said head portion being adapted to anchor an ulnar or radial metaphyseal fragment of a fracture; 
 a substantially rigid hook plate having a first portion and a second portion; 
 the first portion adapted for slidable engagement with said opposite surface of said head portion; 
 the second portion configured to wrap around an edge of said head portion to engage a bone fragment and reduce a fracture; 
 the first portion being substantially flat and defining a first portion plane; 
 the second portion having at least two projections which curve downward to a position below the first portion plane and terminate in hook ends adapted to engage said bone fragment; 
 the first portion including a slot that transects said hook plate from a surface of said hook plate that faces the fracture fixation plate to an opposing surface of said hook plate for engagement with a fastener on said opposite surface of said head portion; 
 said slot being elongated; and 
 the first portion including an elongate member extending distally away from the first portion and upward to a position above the first portion, said elongate member adapted to aid in tensioning of the hook plate prior to tightening of the fastener. 
 
     
     
       6. The fracture fixation apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said elongate member is removable. 
     
     
       7. The fracture fixation apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said fastener is a threaded fastener. 
     
     
       8. The fracture fixation apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first portion comprises indicia proximate the slot, said indicia adapted to identify any movement of said hook plate relative to said fracture fixation plate.